Wix vs. Shopify (2016)

Wix and Shopify hold powerful reputations in the web hosting industry — each for different reasons. Wix is hands-down a leader in the market of browser-based, fully hosted, drag-and-drop site builders. Meanwhile, Shopify is a rockstar when it comes to eCommerce. They’re both incredibly user-friendly, though you might pay a bit of a premium for the no-coding-needed ease of use. It’s time to compare. Use our charts below to judge the two for yourself.

Overall Hosting Comparison

Best Overall Rating

★★★★★4.6/5.0

As a web builder, Wix is an industry leader when it comes to ease of use, setup time, and available features. The browser-based, WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) site-building service is hands down... read more +

As a web builder, Wix is an industry leader when it comes to ease of use, setup time, and available features. The browser-based, WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) site-building service is hands down one of the foremost brands in this industry niche, and that's not without just cause.

Getting started and familiar with the platform is a straightforward process, and the resulting websites you can build are in keeping with industry standards, as far as design and customization go. While you're not going to get the same level of support as you would from a leading web hosting service, the feature set available and included in this free service is a pretty exhaustive list. All it takes to sign up — and said signup is free — is an email or a Facebook account.

Once you're in, you can preview thousands of templates, which are all broken up into categories and then further classified by design or industry type. For example, choose the Online Store category with the Clothing & Accessories subcategory to start selling your custom-printed t-shirts. Your garage band can showcase your latest performances and let family and friends know of upcoming shows by utilizing the Music and Band categories. You can browse the most popular templates and check out the newest additions.

Once you've made your pick, you may feel a tad overwhelmed at the interface — but that's only because the functionality exceeds that of your typical drag-and-drop builder. You can manipulate and edit virtually any facet of your new website, until it perfectly matches the picture in your head.

Finally, get your finished creation noticed by search engines (and the millions of web surfers that they send to websites) using the Wix SEO Wizard. Just tell the Wizard the words or phrases you want people to search for and find your site, and Wix will spit back out a full SEO report — so you know where you stand in terms of relevant visitors being sent to your site. Wix premium plan customers can also benefit from $300-worth of search engine advertising credits, upping the chances of increased site visitors.

Anyone in any field could find themselves wanting a website at some point in their career or personal life. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom with a creative writing habit to share or a serial entrepreneur ready to profit from your next great idea, you don't want building your own website from scratch to be a strain — on your wallet, your time, or your brain. With Wix, you can be your own web designer, developer, and marketer. The interface is easy to use and the end designs are up to snuff with industry standards. When it comes to code-free website building, Wix is a leader and an innovator.

Shopify is easily one of the more well-known eCommerce web builder platforms in the hosting industry. Their plans are fully-hosted, include a free site builder tool, and allow you to boast an unlimited... read more +

Shopify is easily one of the more well-known eCommerce web builder platforms in the hosting industry. Their plans are fully-hosted, include a free site builder tool, and allow you to boast an unlimited number of products with unlimited file storage as well. Compared to other web hosts, Shopify's not going to offer you the same level of robustness in their technological offerings, but their eCommerce features are on point. Online store building is their bread-and-butter of services, and they're darn good at it.

First of all, the Shopify Theme Store features hundreds of free and premium theme options that are relatively easy for end-users to manipulate; plus, dev-savvy folks can customize their eStores and themes via the Shopify API. You can actually start building your online marketplace today — for free for 14 days — and select your plan later. The Shopify experts are on call and ready to help 24/7.

Once you've built your online store with Shopify, build your business by processing product transactions through a myriad of payment methods. Shopify users can sell via social media, by integrating a BUY NOW button, or using the Shopify POS system. Serious eCommerce folks may opt to purchase the Retail Package add-on as well, which includes a cash register, receipt printer, and barcode scanner.

All in all, Shopify offers everything you need to run an efficient and lucrative online business. The commerce-oriented features are many, and they only advance with each upgrade in service package — from the "Basic" to the "Unlimited" plans. Also, you can buy or transfer your domain name, or park your online store at a free MyShopify.com subdomain. If you're eCommerce-focused, trust Shopify for your online store building.

Cheap Hosting Comparison

Cheap Rating

★★★★★4.3/5.0

Wix is known as a web-leading site builder service that's one of the most affordable — because getting started is absolutely free and about as easy as processes get. You can log in via Facebook or your... read more +

Wix is known as a web-leading site builder service that's one of the most affordable — because getting started is absolutely free and about as easy as processes get. You can log in via Facebook or your Gmail account and be editing your new web property within minutes.

All but the most basic of plans include a free domain name voucher for your first year of service, and with Wix comes the wealth of templates to be customized within the Wix Editor. This interface is extremely intuitive, once you take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with it. Once you're comfortable, you'll find yourself dragging and dropping images, text, menus, sliders, and more — all without any code — and feeling like a full-fledged web designer extraordinaire. All of the template designs are up to the latest industry standards, including parallax layouts, a mobile display editor, and responsive designs, and there are thousands of themes to browse.

If you've browsed our reviews and seen the multitude of features that can be had for a mere few dollars a month, you've probably realized that Wix is not the cheapest on the list. With Wix, you're paying for the user-friendliness of the no-tech-skills-needed platform, as well as the speed at which you can get your new site up and running. You're paying for accessibility, so to speak. That doesn't mean you're not getting a lot for the price. Premium plan holders, in particular, can benefit from $300-worth of ad vouchers, free apps for building forms and boosting your site's SEO status, and even priority support.

Bottom line: There is tremendous value in the offerings of Wix plans. Things like 24/7 expert phone support, stellar uptime rates, and mega-powerful servers are not features they tout, but that's intentional. Wix is an awesome website builder service, and if that's what you're looking for, you've come to the right place.

The great thing about Shopify is that the feature set centers around eCommerce, a focus of many shared hosting shoppers. Shopify plans are fully-hosted, but even their most basic plan is more costly than a... read more +

The great thing about Shopify is that the feature set centers around eCommerce, a focus of many shared hosting shoppers. Shopify plans are fully-hosted, but even their most basic plan is more costly than a majority of the shared hosts we've come across; however, if you're serious about building an online store, Shopify offers a broad range of plan options and feature additions to make that happen within a reasonable budget. Plus, you can host your business at a complimentary MyShopify.com subdomain, or at a new or existing domain of your own.

All plans allow you to showcase an unlimited number of products, and you can sell them via Facebook, a BUY NOW button, or the Shopify POS system. Accept payments via Shopify Stripe and ask for help when you need it, because the Shopify experts are available around the clock to help with anything from Shopify theme development to transaction issues. As you're building your online marketplace, you have hundreds of customizable themes to choose from, and the more technically-inclined user can manipulate said themes via the Shopify API.

Shopify is great for online store building. It's a one-stop shop for building and hosting an online marketplace and should be considered as such. If you're looking for a super cheap shared hosting option, there are other providers to consider, but if you want a leading eCommerce platform, Shopify may be your winner.

WordPress Hosting Comparison

WordPress Rating

★★★★★ N/A

Wix does not currently offer this type of hosting. We would not recommend choosing this host for this hosting category.

WordPress Rating

★★★★★3.8/5.0

While Shopify isn't your traditional web host, WordPress fans can take advantage of Shopify's eCommerce capabilities. For just nine bucks a month, you can integrate a Shopify BUY NOW button into your... read more +

While Shopify isn't your traditional web host, WordPress fans can take advantage of Shopify's eCommerce capabilities. For just nine bucks a month, you can integrate a Shopify BUY NOW button into your existing WordPress blog. The Shopify experts will generate a few lines of code for you and — voila — a stand-alone storefront is made for your site. Plus, you can customize via the Shopify API.

All you have to do is add your unlimited number of products and your Shopify/WordPress online store is officially in business. You benefit from all the easy payment processing solutions, including the Shopify Stripe Payment system, which accepts debit and credit cards. If you decide to upgrade your Shopify plan, the USPS shipping discounts and eCommerce features advance with you; you can even get a free SSL certificate.

While Shopify isn't your traditional WordPress host, it's a fine option for implementing top-notch eCommerce functionality into your existing WordPress website. It's not necessarily the most cost-conscious option, but for those who are serious about online store building, Shopify is certainly worth considering.

Site Builder Hosting Comparison

Website Builder Rating

★★★★★5.0/5.0

Website building is where Wix shines. The thousands of templates, the intuitive editor, the industry-leading designs that cater to a variety of specific fields and use cases — all these facets represent... read more +

Website building is where Wix shines. The thousands of templates, the intuitive editor, the industry-leading designs that cater to a variety of specific fields and use cases — all these facets represent a platform that excels at facilitating easy web design for the non-tech-savvy user. Sign up with your Facebook account or email address and get started for free.

I'll admit, the Wix Editor may appear daunting when you first meet it, but get to know the interface. Once you familiarize yourself with the environment, you'll realize that what first comes across as overwhelming is actually empowering — the customization functionalities to be had are many, and they're awesome. There's no need for coding of any kind. Just drag and drop elements of your new site and BAM: What You See Is What You Get (i.e., Wix is a WYSIWYG website builder!).

You don't have to design your website from scratch with Wix, though blank templates are available. There are thousands of templates, each one categorized by design need and further classified into industry niches, and the site's look can be molded to match your brand or personality very easily. Layout and design options include parallax themes (where the viewer scrolls down the screen and one page rolls seamlessly into the next), custom sliders, multiple columns, mobile-specific and mobile-responsive displays, and tons of button and menu navigation tricks.

While Wix isn't our favorite host in terms of expert support or top-of-the-line hardware, it's an industry-leading platform for website building. It's popular for many reasons: the simple startup process, the ease of use, the array of customization options, and the WYSIWYG results, as examples. Its reputation precedes it, and we can totally see where the rave reviews are coming from.

Shopify is a fully-hosted web building platform that specifically serves the eCommerce niche. All plans include a free site builder tool and you can browse the Shopify Theme Store for a design that most... read more +

Shopify is a fully-hosted web building platform that specifically serves the eCommerce niche. All plans include a free site builder tool and you can browse the Shopify Theme Store for a design that most closely matches your brand. Themes are fully customizable, i.e., drag and drop elements or manipulate via the Shopify API. Best of all, you can start building your eStore at no cost with Shopify's 14-day free trial.

Host your online store at a new or existing domain name, or take advantage of the free MyShopify.com domain that the company provides. The Shopify experts have made it simple to display and sell an unlimited number of items online, and processing them is a snap. The Shopify Stripe Payments system allows merchants to accept and process credit and debit transactions after customers make a purchase via Facebook, by clicking on a BUY NOW button, or on other social media platforms. Depending on which plan you sign up for, you can get advanced reporting, shipping, and shopping cart features as well. All plans include the option to entice customers with discount codes too!

If you're shopping for a web builder to build an online store, look no further than Shopify. Build your business, build your brand, and boast an unlimited number of products with ease. Online store building is Shopify's specialty, and the team is available to help you any time of day.

Wix vs. Shopify - Our Conclusion

In a nutshell: Customers stay and grow their sites with InMotion Hosting and SiteGround, whose teams share the goals of reliability and attentive support. The two providers have catered their offerings to meet a variety of consumer needs, with everything from WordPress-specific solutions to SSD speed and in-house-built software. The teams bring a stellar offering to the hosting community. The ratings have spoken, but we’re here to tell you: Serious hosting users truly can’t go wrong with either contender!

Other Wix Comparisons

Comparing Wix and HostGator — two very respected and high-value hosting providers — is like seeking medical attention: Do you need a specialist or a general practitioner? For many patients, as with prospective hosting... see full comparison»

Even though they start with the same letter, Web.com and Wix are at opposite ends of the hosting spectrum. Both specialize in shared hosting for novice site owners, but the similarities pretty much end there. Wix shines with... see full comparison»

Here we have two hosts with unique specialties — Wix’s is website building and GoDaddy’s is domain name registry. What they have in common is their appeal to first-time or not-so-tech-savvy site owners because they both make... see full comparison»

Which do you prefer: following a trail or forging your own path? Your predisposition to exploration and flexibility matters greatly when comparing Wix and Bluehost. Both platforms offer excellent products for beginners looking to... see full comparison»

How confident are you in your website-building abilities? Do you want to commit to using only one platform, no matter how wonderful it is? Or would you rather have a few options and support teams to help you choose? These... see full comparison»

Other Shopify Comparisons

Here we have two very different players in the hosting space. You don’t have to be an industry expert to recognize their specialties: GoDaddy’s is domains and Shopify’s is eCommerce. So, the call is clear: When comparing... see full comparison»

Shopify versus Web.com: This comparison is pretty black and white. As the name would lead you to guess, Shopify is for eCommerce website building. They’ve tailored their packages to accommodate product displays, inventory... see full comparison»

Disclaimer: Great efforts are made to maintain reliable data on all offers presented. However, this data is provided without warranty. Users should always check the offer provider’s official website for current terms and details. Our site receives compensation from many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across the site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Our site does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.